THE HELMINTHFAUNA OR ORYCTOLAGUS-CUNICULUS (LINNAEUS, 1758) IN THE IBERIAN PENINSULA - FAUNISTIC AND ECOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Faunistic and ecological analysis of the helminthfauna of the wild rab bit, Oryctolagus cuniculus (Linnaeus, 1758), was undertaken in the Ibe rian Peninsula. For the first time the helminthfaunas of the two iberi an subspecies (O. c. cuniculus and O. c. algirus) are detailed. Fiftee n parasite species (1 Digenetic Trematode, 7 Cestodes and 7 Nematodes) were detected. The presence of Leporidotaenio spp. (Cestoda: Anoploce phalidae) is the distinguishable feature between both helminthfaunas. Moreover, qualitative and quantitative differences exist between the t wo hosts subspecies, often statistically significant. The effect of ho st sex on the helminthfauna of O. cuniculus in both populations seems to be low.